Vacuum cleaning and force-draft system.



F. J. MATCHETTE & R. RADDATZ,

VACUUM CLEANING AND FORCE'DRAFT SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3P. 1910.

Patented May 1, 1917.

IHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:

F755" Z Ivar/116161707 8, fFz/twesses: flag/1pm W F 32M $W mm @121 Finn...

UNTTEN STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE AND RICHARD RADDATZ, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN- ORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO RICHMOND RADIATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A cortronarroiv or DELAWARE.

VACUUM CLEANING AND FORCE-DRAFT SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. Marcnn'r'rn and RICHARD RADDATZ, c tizens of the Unlted States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning and Force-Draft Systems, (Case 13,) of which the followlng is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, formlng a part thereof.

This invention relates to apparatus designed to remove dust and dirt from floors, walls and other surfaces and from carpets, furniture or the like, by means of a current of air.

The main object of the present inventlon is to utilize the exhaust from such a system for accelerating the draft and promotmg combustion in a furnace or the like;

It consists in the construction, arrange ment and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly 1n section, showing a stationary plant embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing certain features of the invention as embodied in portable apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, a piping system is shown, comprising a suctlon or.serv1ce mam a, and one or more branches 7), having valve controlled inlet or service connections a on the several floors or in the different apartments of the building for the attachment of suitable vacuum or suction tools or cleaners, which are not shown.

A stationary steam boiler (Z mounted in an ordinary bricksetting and provided with a smoke stack or escape fine 6, is usually located in the basement of the building. Below the boiler the brick setting forms .the usual furnace, comprising a combustion chamber 7 above, and-an ash pit 9 below, the grate i.

The suction or service main a preferably leads into a primary dust collector or separator 7', which is preferably located in the basement of the building or near the furnace, so as to remove from the air the heavier Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed March 2, 1905, Serial No. 248,106.

30, 1910. Serial No. 584,586.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Divided and this application filed September and coarser particles of dirt and thus prevent them from clogging or interfering with the operation-of the aspirator or vacuum producing means hereinafter mentioned. The primary dust collector or separator j is connected by an eduction pipe k with a secondary dust collector or separator Z. In this pipe is located an aspirator or ejector m, which is connected by a pipe 11 with the boiler (Z or the steam supply main 0 leading therefrom. The pipe 11. is provided with a valve 22 for manually shutting 0d the supply of steam to the aspirator and also with an automatic regulating valve 9 operated by a diaphragm or similar device, indicated at r, and connected on one side by a pipe .9 with the pipe 14 or any other convenient part of the system in which vacuum or low service pressure is maintained, the valve g and its actuating device r with their connections ponstituting an automatic controller or reguator.

From the lower part of the secondary dust collector or separator Z, a discharge pipe 6 provided with a valve to, leads through the wall of the furnace above the grate i into the combustion chamber 7. From the upper part of said dust collector or separator leads another pipe 12 having a valve w and a threeway valve 02, with one branch of which is connected. a blast nozzle 3 in the smoke stack 6 of the boiler furnace, while with the other branch is connected a blast nozzle 2 in a ventilating flue, waste conduit or other duct 2, for producing a draft therein. Still another pipe 8 provided with a valve 4: and with a three-way valve 5, leads from the dust collector or separator Z at a point above which dust and dirt are allowed to accumulate therein. One branch of the three-way valve 5 is connected with the ash pit g below the grate i of the furnace by a pipe 6, while the other branch is connected by a pipe 7 with a feed water or other heating device, represented by a radiator 8.

The apparatus as thus far described, may be operated in several different ways. If it be desired to discharge the exhaust from the aspirator m directly into the furnace, the valves to and 4: are closed and the valve 10 is opened, whereupon the mingled air, steam and dust issuing from the aspirator are directedinto the combustion chamber f of the furnace above the grate g, accelerating the draft of the furnace and promoting combustion of the fuel therein, besides disposing of the dust and dirt in a convenient, harmless and inofiensive manner. Or, if desired, the valve u may be closed and the valve w opened, whereupon the air and steam from which dust and dirt are removed in the dust. collector or separator Z, pass through the pipe '0 and are discharged from the blast nozzle y into the smoke stack or escape, flue e, or are discharged from the blast nozzle 2 into the duct 2, according to the position of the valve 02.

On the other hand, by closing the valves u and w and opening the valve 4, the air and steam from which dust and dirt have been removed in the collector or separator Z, may be discharged through the pipe 6 into the ash pit g of the furnace, thus tending to cool the grate bars and soften clinkers, as well as acting to accelerate the furnace draft and aid combustion. Or by the proper manipulation of the valve 5 the exhaust steam and air from the aspirator may be directed through the pipe 7 into the radiator 8 or other heating device, in which the otherwise waste heat of the steam is advantageously utilized without affecting the operation or impairing the efficiency of the cleaning apparatus. During the operation of the apparatus in the various ways last described, when the exhaust steam and air are directed into the smoke-stack e, duct 2, ash pit g or heater 8, the dust accumulating in the collector or separator n is discharged from time to time by opening the valve u.

Referring to Fig. 2 showing portable apparatus embodying certain features of the invention, the vacuum piping system is represented by a flexible pipe or hose a with which the cleaning tool is connected. d is a portable vertical fire tube boiler having a smoke stack or escape flue e, an internal fire box or combustion chamber f, ash pit g and grate i. In this case the secondary dust collector Z is omitted and the eduction pipe is provided at its discharge end with a three-way valve 9, one branch of which is connected by a pipe 10 with a blast nozzle 11 in the smoke stack 6, while the other branch is connected by a pipe 12 with another three-way valve 13, from which branch pipes or nozzles 14 and 15 lead into the combustion chamber f and ash pit g above and below the grate 2" respectively. Each of the branch pipes 14 and 15 may be surrounded at its discharge end by a cone or tube 16 for entraining into the furnace with the exhaust jet, additional air.

The operation of this portable form of apparatus is similar to that of the stationary apparatus hereinbefore described, the mingled steam, air and dust being discharged either into the ash pit, combustion chamber or smoke stack of the furnace, as may be found desirable for producing the best results under varying conditions. ,The dust collector or separator j may in this'case be constructed to remove all or most of the dust from the air, so that the discharge of the exhaust from the aspirator into the open air will be unobjectionable.

Various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Features shown and not claimed herein are claimed in our co-pending applications Serial Nos. 584:,585 and 584,587.

WVe claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaning and'force'draft system, in combination, a piping-system having means for receiving material to be conveyed thereby, a steam ejector or aspirator in communication with a pressure supply and adapted to draw air and dust through said system, a steam-generator, including a furnace, adapted to supply steam to said aspirator for operating it, a chamber into which said aspirator discharges dust, a discharge pipe leading from said chamber to supply the dust to said furnace, and an independent discharge from said chamber for the air discharged through said aspirator 5 arranged as a draft nozzle in the exhaustflue or stack ofsaid steam-generator.

2. In a vacuum cleaning and force draft system, in combination, a piping-system having means for receiving material to be conveyed thereby, a steam ejector or aspirator in combination with a pressuresupply and adapted to draw air and dust through said system, means actuated by a change of the pressure in said system for automatically controlling said ejector, a steam-generator, including a furnace, adapted to supply steam to said aspirator for operating it, a chamber into which said aspirator discharges dust, a discharge pipe leading fromsaid chamber to supply the dust to said furnace, means for controlling said discharge pipe, and an independent discharge from said chamber leading under the fire in said furnace. 4

3. In a device of the class described, a piping system having means for receivlng material to be carried thereby, an aspirator in communication with a pressure supply for actuating the same and designed to draw air and dust through said system, a fuel burning device, said aspirator being arranged to discharge the air and dust from the system into the fuel burning device and means controlled by the air pressure in said system for regulating said aspirator.

4. In a device of the class described, a piping system having means for receiving material to be carried thereby, an aspirator in communication with a pressure supply for actuating'the same and designed to draw air and dust through said system, a fuel burn- In Witness whereof We hereto affix our ing device, said aspirator being arranged to signatures in presence of two Witnesses. dischar e the air and dust from the system into the fuel burning device, a valve for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to said aspirator, and an automatic controller Witnesses: operatively connected with said valve and CHAS. L. Goss, piping system. ALICE E. Goss.

Gople of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

